Releasable strap clamping means



Nov., 11, 1947. A. P. D; BELANGER 21,430,754-

RELEASABLE STRAP CLAMPING MEANS Filed Marh 22, 1944 Patented Nov. 11, 1947 UNITED STATE also;

RELEASABLE STRAP CLAIR/WING MEANS Albert I. D. Belanger, Alton, Ill.

Application March 22, 1944, Serial No. 527,532

(Cl. 24--21l 3 Claims. 1 My invention relates to releasable strap clamping means of a type adapted for use in connection with flexible bands for binding bundles or the like, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts which can be produced rapidly and easily by stamping operations in such condition as to be readily applicable to a band of leather, paper, metal or other material for tightening the band about a bundle and securing the band in tight condition, the arrangement preferably being such as to enable an operator by an easy operation to release the parts for repeated use.

For the accomplishment of my several objects, I have provided two members adapted to be given sliding movement longitudinally with respect to each other, means being provided on'each of the two members for connecting it releasably with one end of a flexible band. In the preferred form of device, means is provided by engagement with which one of the members can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the other for tightening the band, and latching means is provided for holding the adjusted parts against movement in the reverse direction, together with means for clamping the parts in their latched positions. The latehing means is made releasable so as to enable an operator readily and quickly to loosen the band when desired and so as to leave the parts in condition for repeated use.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 1ig. l is a perspective view of my .improved clamping device connected with opposite ends of a band, with a tool in position for adjusting one of the members with respect to the other;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts as shown in Fig. l, but with the parts in their iinal position after a tightening operation;

Figs. 3 and 4 are face views of the two members of my improved device;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially at the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially at the line 5-6 of Fig. fl.

In the several gures of the drawing, corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters. A plate Ic stamped out of sheet metal is provided at one end portion with a crossbar II pressed into slightly1 offset position so as to receive the turned-back end portion IE of a strap I3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the plate Ill is provided with a plurality of pairs of lugs it which are normally turned upwardly into upright position as shown in Fig. l. As shown in said figure, the edges Ma of the lugs I facing toward the cross-bar II stand at right angles with respect to the plate Iii, while the edges Ilb of the lugs facing away from the cross-bar are in oblique position. Across the plate Ic adjacent to each pair of they lugs Iii, I have provided ribs I5 which extend upwardly a substantial distance above the level of the adjacent face portions of the plate IIB so as to act as bearings for engagement by a tool, as hereinafter described. A second plate II of substantially 'the same width as the plate Iii is provided, having laterally extending lugs II at opposite sides at one end ld, and having a cross-bar I8 pressed into slightly offset position thereacross at its opposite end ib, the cross-bar I8 being in position to receive a turned-back portion I9 at the opposite end of the flexible band I3, as is clearly shown in Fig. l. At the opposite end portion Ita of the plate I6, between the laterally extending lugs Il, I have provided an opening 2d extending across parallel with the cross-bar I8.

In use, with opposite end portions of the band I3 threaded into engagement with the cross-bars II and I8, as shown in Fig, 1, and with the intermediate portionof the band I3 preferably wrapped about a bundle or other part to be gripped, a screw driver 2| or other suitable tool is inserted through the opening 2B which acts as a bearing for the tool on the plate I6, such tool being brought into engagement with one of the bearing ribs I5, whereby the plate I6 may be forced by a lever action toward the left in Fig. 1. In this operation, the lugs Il of the plate I6 serving as outwardly extending bearing portions ride upwardly on the obliquely disposed edge faces lib of the lugs I4 and are then moved downwardly into latching engagement with thevertically disposed faces Illa at the opposite edges of the lugs acting as stops so as to hold the plate I6 from movement in the opposite direction. In the operation of applying the parts to the bundle to be gripped, the band I3 is preliminarily adjusted with respect to the offset cross-bars II and Iii so as to be of approximately the correct effective length so that when the plate I6 is thereafter given one or two steps of movement toward the left in the drawings with respect to the plate lil, the band I3 will be brought to its desired degree of tightness. After the tightening operation, the lugs lil are bent downwardly into position for holding the plate le firmly in posi- 3 tion, as shown in Fig. 2. I have found in practice that my clamping means is eiective in use with a band of metal, leather, paper or ber, the crease in the band at the edge of the crossbar being effective for preventing slippage of the band with respect to the cross-bar when the parts are held clamped in their binding position. In any case where the tension of the band is to be particularly heavy, the turned-back end portion of the band can be increased in length so as to provide a greater area at which a frictional grip is applied to the band. I have found also that the lugs I4 can be very readily bent upwardly again out of their gripping engagement with the plate I 6 and the band I3 when it is desired to loosen the band, and that the plates l0 and I6 can be used a considerable number of times ordinarily before the lugs I4 become broken so as to interfere with the operation of the dev1ce.

While I preferv to employ the form and a1'- rangement of parts as shown in my drawing and as above described, the invention is not to be limited thereto except so far as the claims may be so limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the arrangement Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. In a device of the type described, the combination of two plates, means for connecting said plates to opposite end portions of a eXible band, bearings on said plates for engagement by a tool for moving one plate edgewise with respect to the other, and lugs on one, of said plates adapted in one position to act as stops for an adjustable engagement of the plates with each other, and adapted when bent into changed position to hold the plates in xed position with respect to each other.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of two plates, means for connecting said plates to opposite end portions of a flexible band, lugs on one of said plates having vertically positioned edge portions facing in one direction and obliquely positioned edge portions facing in the opposite direction, and laterally extending bearing portions on the other plate at opposite Sides thereof adapted to ride up the obliquely positioned edges of 'the lugs into latching engagement with the vertically positioned edges of the lugs, such lugs being adapted when bent into changed position to hold the two plates in fixed position with respect to each other.

3. In a device of the type described, the combination of two plates, means for connecting said plates to opposite end portions of a flexible band, one of said plates having an opening therethrough in transverse position, a series of ribs in transverse position in the other plate adapted to act as bearings for a, tool inserted through said opening for moving one plate edgewise with respect to the other, and lugs on one of said plates adapted in one position to act as stops for an adjustable engagement of the plates with each other, and adapted when bent into changed position to hold the plates in fixed position with respect to each other.

ALBERT P. D. BELANGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

